A Star Wars One-Two Punch

I saw these today:

http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/89055/monomaniacal/?all=1

and

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/01/29/star-wars-isnt-a-religion-its-a-space-opera/

Any thoughts? Are they fair/accurate? Off base?

I thought the first writer had a LOT of good things to say. I also understand some of the second writer's criticisms, although I didn't feel he effectively countered the main points of the first writer.

My position on the influence of Star Wars is that with some rare exceptions, it has not actually caused people to believe in its philosophy. But it has given people an easy reference point with which to articulate their beliefs(the word "force" comes to mind when listening to subscribers of "pop-spirituality"), and greased the wheels for some to accept real-world systems of thought that are false.